Abstract
Circadian rhythms, endogenous and entrainable adaptations to 24-hour cycles of light and dark, influence almost all physiologic functions. Emerging evidence suggests that the disruption of normal circadian rhythms, termed chronodisruption, could affect a wide range of disease-related processes. In this review, we describe the molecular generation of circadian rhythms, the effects of chronodisruption on human health, the circadian timing of birth in multiple species, the possible effects of chronodisruption on preterm birth, and some of the open questions in this field.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 60-67 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
Volume | 52 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2018 |
Funding
We thank Dr. Deborah J. Frank for critical reading and editing of the manuscript. We thank Kimen Design4Research for creating the figure used in this review. This work was supported by the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis (to S.K.E., E.D.H., J.C.F., and E.S.J.).
Keywords
- Chronodisruption
- Circadian rhythms
- Pregnancy
- Preterm birth
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology